Friday, January 13, 2017

The Ultimate List of Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Makers in the UK : Craft Chocolate in Britain is at an all-time high

Bean-to-Bar
chocolate or 'craft chocolate' has been steadily increasing the
U.K. for some time now and it seems that all sorts of amazing
chocolates are being launched, produced and celebrated regularly. In
fact, I wonder at times if it is out-shining the American craft chocolate
movement, but yet I don't see the same number of articles about its seemingly
rapid growth or status as a 'movement'. The Academy of Chocolate Awards and
International Chocolate Awards seem to be growing steadily in popularity. And
so, I think a list will help all those interested in tasting the amazing
bean-to-bar chocolate coming out of the United Kingdom these days.

I have
split the list of UK bean-to-bar chocolate makers it out into regions by
country (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), but if this is somehow
not a correct way to divide, please tell me in the comments below. I`ve been to
the UK only once or twice, so my awareness of what is politically correct may
be limited.

Only
Northern Ireland is included below, since The Republic of Ireland is a part of
Europe and will be included in a future list of European chocolate makers
(description is needed for us North American folks who are
regularly confused about which Ireland is being discussed).

This list
is not yet complete, but I will add to it as I learn of others. Please feel
free to add your favourites or your chocolate company in the Comments feature
below, and I will update the list with them as soon as I can.

So let's
enjoy some British chocolate!

British Bean-to-Bar Chocolate

England

Akesson's
Chocolate (London,
UK) - Delicious chocolate with many bars being made from tree-to-bar, since
Bertil Akesson owns plantations in Madagascar, Brazil and Indonesia. This
chocolate is a must-try! http://www.akessons-organic.com/

Beau
Cacao (London,
UK) - crafting chocolate from Malaysian cacao through direct sourcing of cocoa
beans, to ensure 'full transparency' of their products and ethical practices in
chocolate making. Currently offering dark chocolate bars in the 70% range made
from single origin cacao. www.beaucacao.com

Blackboys
Chocolate (Blackboys, East Sussex) - This chocolate maker is concerned about using
organic and pesticide-free ingredients, as well as donating 5% of income to
bumblebee conservation. Website: www.blackboyschocolate.comTwitter:
@BlackboysChoc

Bullion Chocolate (Sheffield, South Yorkshire) - crafting single origin chocolate from bean to bar. Twitter: @OfficialBullion Website: www.bullionchocolate.comDamson
Chocolate (Islington,
London, UK) - Chocolate blogger, educator, and judge Dom Ramsey teamed up with
chocolate enthusiast Tom Millson in early 2015 to create Damson Chocolate,
after both had been experimenting with bean-to-bar chocolate making at home for
some time. Already winning awards, Damson is producing interesting selections such
as three different percentages of Buffalo milk chocolate bars with high cocoa
solids, barrel-aged whisky milk chocolate, blended and origin dark chocolate
bars. Twitter: @damsonchocolate www.damsonchocolate.com

Dormouse
Chocolates
(Manchester, UK) - "Manchester's first and only bean-to-bar chocolate
maker." Also making bars and truffles with their "favourite single
origin chocolate". Twitter @Dormousechocs www.dormousechocolates.co.uk

Duffy's (Cleethorpes, England) -
"Single origin artisan chocolate bars made from cacao sourced from
different regions all over the world." I've tasted two of
Duffy's chocolate bars and they were excellent. Twitter: @duffyredstarhttp://www.duffyschocolate.co.uk/

Ekuma
Chocolate (London
/ Ecuador) - The web page is under construction, so waiting on more info for
this listing now. Follow on Twitter: @EkumaChocolate Website: www.ekumachocolate.com

Hotel Chocolat - Not so sure this brand can be called 'craft
chocolate' given the growth in size and popularity of Hotel Chocolat, but
they still make chocolate from bean-to-bar that Brits seem to love. I dream of
tasting it someday. http://www.hotelchocolat.com/uk@HotelChocolat

Ottar
Chocolate
(Welbeck, Nottinghamshire, England) - Chocolatiers and pastry chefs who are now
embarking on a bean-to-bar 'adventure'.www.ottarchocolate.com

Pump
Street Bakery (Orford,
Sufolk): Award-winning bean-to-bar chocolate, along with a rather famous bread
and pastry shop. I have tasted this chocolate, and I LOVE it. The quality
is truly there. BBC Best Food Producer 2012. Twitter: @pumpstbakerywww.pumpstreetbakery.com

Willies
Cacao (Devon,
UK) - Both cacao farmer (in Venezuela) and chocolate maker in Devon, also
sourcing beans from around the world. I have tasted about three of this
chocolate makers' bars, and I have enjoyed them thoroughly. We can purchase in
Canada at www.latablette.ca.
Follow on Twitter at: @WilliesCacao Website: www.williescacao.com

Rococo
Chocolates (London,
UK) - they own their own cocoa farm in northern Grenada and sell all sorts of
luxury chocolates and chocolate bars, as well as chocolate-related items on
their website. Follow on Twitter at: @rococochocs Website: www.rococochocolates.com

They are most probably producing but still in development. It's a good thing, you can't run before you can walk. It's vital to care about and be as knowledgeable about bean to bar as they can, for the sake of consumers and other makers.

I do believe that Artisan du Chocolat do not process chocolate from the bean, and buy in Chocolat Liqour instead. They may have changed their practices since I was told this, but you might want to double check this.

The FIG Tree in Lancashire produce small scale Ethical Bean To Bar Chocolate including vegan varieties of milk chocolate using almond milk. At the moment they sell locally but have plans to go online with sales this year. twitter @fairtradecentre website is www.fairtradecentre.org

About Me

I am on a mission to taste all of the world's best chocolate, and to share what I have learned with you! As a chocolatier, pastry professional and business owner with an obsession for tasting new kinds of chocolate daily, and with creating something new in my commercial kitchen every week, I can share all sorts of tips, tricks and techniques for 'chocolatiering', bean-to-bar chocolate making, and for baking. Join me on this journey for recipes, reviews, and chocolaty gift ideas by way of my chocolate blog (www.ultimatechocolateblog.blogspot.com), my facebook page (The Ultimate Chocolate Blog), twitter (@ultimatelychoc) or Intagram (@ultimatelychocolate).
And be sure to check out the web site of Ultimately Chocolate, my chocolate and pastry business (www.ultimatelychocolate.com) in Canada. Oh, and I LOVE to make Piecaken and share my recipes at www.piecaken.blogspot.com.